PVRs: Compare features & prices
Sky Digital Sky+ review
http://www.which.co.uk/technology/tv-and-dvd/reviews/pvrs/sky-digital-sky-/review/
The Sky+ is a twin tuner PVR designed for the Sky satellite service that comes with a 160GB hard disk capable of storing up to 40 hours of programmes and a host of exclusive features such as remote record. We tested and compared this PVR to determine whether it offers outstanding performance and versatility.
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| Specification criteria | Specification |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Test Date | 27 November 2009 |
| Recently tested | No |
| Monthly subscription | Yes |
Type
|
Sky |
| High Definition | No |
| Max recording (hours)
|
40 |
| Full Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
|
Yes |
| Power use when 'on' (watts) | 22.8 |
| Power use in standby (watts) | 13.2 |
| Pause live TV
|
Yes |
| Pause and rewind
|
Yes |
| Archive to VCR/DVD recorder
|
Yes |
| Edit
|
No |
| Accurate recording
|
Yes |
| Series link
|
Yes |
| Conflict resolution
|
Yes |
| Broadcast recommendations
|
No |
| Trailer booking
|
No |
| Record one channel/watch another
|
Yes |
| Record two channels/playback a third
|
Yes |
| Record two channels/watch a third live
|
No |
Help
Type
This shows the type of digital TV system the PVR will work with for example Sky or Freesat (satellite), Virgin (cable) or Freeview (terrestrial).
Max recording (hours)
The maximum storage capacity of the PVR
Full Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
An EPG displays on-screen listings for the next week for all available TV channels.
Pause live TV
This feature allows you to pause live TV.
Pause and rewind
Means you can rewind live TV at anytime - before even selecting pause.
Archive to VCR/DVD recorder
This allows you to copy recoded programs to another format.
Edit
Edit features usually let you crop programmes and cut out adverts.
Accurate recording
Many of the latest Freeview playback PVRs renwe the information in their EPGs continually - so any schedule changes will be picked up when you record.
Series link
Record an entire series of programmes with the touch of a button.
Conflict resolution
If programmes to be recorded clash the PVR will try to find an alternative time that one of the programmes is being transmitted and offer to record that broadcast instead
Broadcast recommendations
PVR will offer to record programmes of a similar genre that it thinks you'll like when you are programming a recording using the EPG
Trailer booking
You can book a programme to record by pressing a button while the trailer is being shown rather than only via the EPG
Record one channel/watch another
This will allow you to record one channel while watching another
Record two channels/playback a third
Means you can record two programmes while playing back a third.
Record two channels/watch a third live
The most versatile PVRs allow you to record two programmes and watch a third live channel. The live channel has to be broadcast in the same group of channels (called a multiplex) as one fo the recorded programmes.
